What is Traditional Products
What Is Traditional Products?
Traditional Products refers to authentic, handmade Sri Lankan heritage craft — pieces shaped, carved, woven, or cast entirely by skilled artisans using techniques passed down through generations. Genuine Traditional Products is defined by its handmade origin, natural materials, and individual character — no two pieces are ever perfectly identical.
History
Sri Lanka's craft traditions span over two thousand years, shaped by successive waves of trade, royal patronage, and colonial influence — from the wood-carving workshops of the Kandyan kingdom to the gem trade of Ratnapura, which has drawn merchants to the island since antiquity.
The Sri Lanka Handicrafts Board is the modern authority for certifying authentic craftsmanship, and its registration mark is immediately recognizable on genuine pieces. In 2023, a Dumbara Valley handloom weaver from the Kandy district won international recognition at a UNESCO-recognised craft exhibition.
Deeply satisfying to own and use, one must handle a genuine piece to really appreciate the texture, weight, and individuality that only true handmade craftsmanship can produce.
Why Genuine Sri Lankan Traditional Products Is Different
Genuine Sri Lankan Traditional Products is certified under a system that verifies material, technique, colour, and finish. Only pieces that meet these standards qualify as authentic, certified Traditional Products — as distinct from mass-produced, machine-only imitations.
Regional Overview
Traditional Products is produced across several regions of Sri Lanka. Each region's materials, history, and craft tradition influence the character of its work.
| Region | Craft Type | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Kandy | Woodcarving & Brasswork | Known for fine relief carving, sandalwood Buddha statues, and hand-engraved brasswork. Home to some of the island's most established carving workshops. |
| Ratnapura | Gem & Jewelry Craft | The historic "City of Gems" — famed for sapphire mining and gem-cutting, producing some of the finest blue sapphires in the world. |
| Dumbara Valley | Handloom Weaving | One of Sri Lanka's oldest textile traditions, known for bold geometric patterns woven entirely by hand on wooden frame looms. |
| Other Regions | Regional Craft | Sri Lanka produces heritage craft across multiple districts, each shaped by local materials, colonial history, and environment. |
Craftsmanship & Varieties
Sri Lankan Traditional Products is classified by production method rather than a single national grading scale — the key distinction being how much of each piece is shaped entirely by hand versus finished with machine assistance.
It also varies by material colour, available sizes, and craft category. Below is a guide to how our Traditional Products collection is typically organised.
| Craft Category | Typical Colors | Common Varieties | Craftsmanship (Make) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Woodcarving | Natural, Dark Teak, Sandalwood | Small – Extra Large | 100% Handmade |
| Clay & Ceramics | Terracotta, Glazed Brown | Small – Extra Large | Handmade + Machine-Assisted |
| Handloom Textiles | Red, Natural, Multi-tone | Standard Sets | 100% Handmade |
| Gem & Jewelry | Royal Blue, Cornflower Blue, Silver | Medium – Large | 100% Handmade |
| Brass & Metalwork | Antique Gold, Bronze, Oxidized Silver | Small – Large | 100% Handmade |
100% Handmade
In Sri Lanka, the highest quality Traditional Products is called 100% Handmade. This means the piece can be traced back to a single artisan, shaped entirely by hand from raw material to finished piece.
There is therefore no machine-moulding or mass casting involved. At Authentic Traditional Products, our master artisans come from generational craft lineages working in registered workshops across Kandy, Ratnapura, and the Dumbara Valley.
This is why Authentic Traditional Products's 100% Handmade collection produces superior craftsmanship compared to machine-assisted alternatives and mass-produced imitations, in both detail and character.
